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The Vanishing of Billy Buckle: The Detective Agency's Third Case (The Fairy Detective Agency #3)
by Sally GardnerSpot on the Fishcake!The famous fairy detective agency, Wings & Co, has a problem. Really quite a big problem. Well, a few of them actually.There's the missing giant, Billy Buckle, who has vanished without a trace, and left his giant daughter with the detectives. There's a surprise visit to the seaside, which uncovers a murder and a stolen diamond. And then there's that tricky business of the TV talent show.Squat on a squid, this is Emily, Buster and Fidget's most complicated case yet.Read by Simon Russell Beale(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds: A Novel
by Jennifer MoormanNow a USA TODAY bestseller!"The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds drips with lush Jazz Age detail, a vivid cast of characters, and a protagonist whose future literally depends on her ability to navigate the past." --Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Echo of Old BooksA captivating tale of family bonds and unexpected chances, threaded with the thrilling magic of time travel, by the author of The Baker's Man and The Magic All Around.Can one thoughtless wish erase a life?Widowed at thirty-five, Josephine Reynolds wishes she could disappear, but her concerned sister convinces her to buy their ancestral home, a Craftsman bungalow in disrepair and foreclosure. It's a welcome distraction, and Josephine can't believe her luck when she finds the home's original door in a salvage yard.When she installs the door and steps through it, Josephine is transported into 1927, where she meets her great-grandmother Alma, a vivacious and daring woman running an illegal speakeasy in the bungalow's basement. Immersed in the vibrant Jazz Age, Josephine forms a profound bond with Alma, only to discover upon her return to the present that history has been altered. Alma's life was tragically cut short in a speakeasy raid just a week after their fateful meeting.Josephine has a chilling revelation--her own existence is unraveling/vanishing--and she must race against time to rewrite history. Josephine is desperate to not only save Alma but save her own future in a time-bending journey where past and present intertwine in a desperate battle for survival.Infused with Jennifer Moorman's signature blend of magical detail and heartfelt storytelling, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is a tale of resilience in the face of loss and a testament to the timeless bond of family.
The Vanquish Vendetta (Illmoor Chronicles #5)
by David Lee StoneLord Curfew has been returned to Dullitch, but things are not as they seem. The real Lord Curfew was brutally murdered and now an evil impostor sits on his throne. Ruthless and hungry for power, he will do anything to sustain his disguise ... and people have started to notice.But, this impostor is a pawn of a much darker force. One that's older than Illmoor itself ...Meanwhile, elsewhere in Illmoor ...King Groan Teethgritt, his brother Gape, and Gordo Goldeaxe discover an ancient and valuable hammer that leads them back to Dullitch. Little do they know they have just unearthed a crucial part of Dullitch's past.Can old heroes reunitre to save the city once again?
The Vanquish Vendetta (The\illmoor Chronicles Ser. #5)
by David Lee StoneLord Curfew has been returned to Dullitch, but things are not as they seem. The real Lord Curfew was brutally murdered and now an evil impostor sits on his throne. Ruthless and hungry for power, he will do anything to sustain his disguise ... and people have started to notice.But, this impostor is a pawn of a much darker force. One that's older than Illmoor itself ...Meanwhile, elsewhere in Illmoor ...King Groan Teethgritt, his brother Gape, and Gordo Goldeaxe discover an ancient and valuable hammer that leads them back to Dullitch. Little do they know they have just unearthed a crucial part of Dullitch's past.Can old heroes reunitre to save the city once again?
The Vanquish Vendetta: The Vanquish Vendetta Ebook (The Illmoor Chronicles #5)
by David Lee StoneIn the fifth book of the Illmoor Chronicles, an ancient and sinister force is rising, and the kingdom’s much-maligned capital is in serious troubleViscount Curfew is an impostor, a henchman in an evil scheme to bring Dullitch to its deadly and final destruction. His true form is that of Sorrell Diveal, a ruthless practitioner of dark magic who will stop at nothing to maintain his disguise. From his lofty position in the palace of Dullitch, Diveal can wreak havoc—and the city is in desperate peril.Unaware of the troubles in Dullitch, King Groan Teethgrit, a hulking mass of muscle who recently ascended to the throne of Illmoor, has arrived in the capital. Along with his brother, Gape, and his partner, the axe-wielding dwarf Gordo Goldeaxe, King Groan has discovered an old and mystical hammer, a valuable relic he hopes to trade with the viscount. But the hammer is much more important than Groan realizes, and with his flair for making a bad situation worse, the stage is set for an all-out battle over the future of Illmoor.
The Variable Man
by Philip K. DickHe fixed things--clocks, refrigerators, vidsenders and destinies. But he had no business in the future, where the calculators could not handle him. He was Earth's only hope--and its sure failure!
The Variable Man and Other Stories (Dover Thrift Editions: Short Stories)
by Philip K. DickA seminal figure of twentieth-century science fiction, Philip K. Dick ponders the very nature of humanity in this anthology of five gripping short stories and novellas that were first published in early 1950s pulp magazines. Written during the Cold War, “The Defenders” presents a tale of robotic warfare. “Foster, You’re Dead” criticizes consumerism and the Cold War, when the military-industrial complex shifted responsibility for self-defense to families by selling bomb shelters. “Piper in the Woods” is a clever short story concerning the erosion of reality. A military psychologist is tasked with solving the mystery of why military personnel are behaving like plants upon their return from an asteroid. “Second Variety” is prescient in its anticipation of the hazards of self-evolving robots that can operate independently of one another. In “The Variable Man,” Earth relies on computer technology and a time traveler to predict their chances of victory in a fight against aliens. This collection is an excellent introduction to one of the most original minds of the modern era.
The Variations
by Patrick LangleyAn eerie ability is passed from grandmother to grandson—who now must reckon with a new cacophony of voices and sounds, all from the past, overlaying his life in the present—in this stirring new novel from one of the UK&’s most exciting young writers.Selda Heddle, a famously reclusive composer, is found dead in a snowy field near her Cornish home. She was educated at Agnes&’s Hospice for Acoustically Gifted Children, which for centuries has offered its young wards a grounding in the gift—an inherited ability to tune into the voices and sounds of the past.When she dies, Selda&’s gift passes down to her grandson Wolf, who must make sense of her legacy, and learn to live with the newly unleashed voices in his head. Ambitious and exhilarating, The Variations is a novel of startling originality about music and the difficulty—or impossibility—of living with the past."If Hilary Mantel&’s Beyond Black were written by John Banville channelling M. John Harrison, the result would look something like this. And yet Langley has made something new and unexpected about how the present is, necessarily and always, an echo corridor of the past. Beautifully written, powered by a wonderfully intelligent conceptual dynamo, and deftly sprung with surprises, The Variations is an utterly original book about haunting. It is strange, resonant, and, yes, haunting."— Neel Mukherjee, author of The Lives of Others
The Various
by Steve AugardeNow available in paperback with gorgeous new cover art! A captivating story of courage and strength against terrible odds, this is the story of Midge, left to stay with her eccentric uncle during the holidays, and her adventures with the Various, a band of fairies. The existence of the Various, who are strange, wild, and sometimes even deadly, has been kept secret since the beginning of time, but when their world begins to clash with the human world, they are threatened with extinction. This wonderfully imaginative story of love and loyalty is the first in a powerful trilogy. VOYAsays ofThe Various: “A marvelous blend of oldfashioned storytelling, the book has a freshness and immediacy that will intrigue fantasy lovers of all ages. ” “A rousing addition to the durable genre of British fairy lit. ”—New York Times “Augarde unfolds the events gradually, allowing readers to luxuriate in the near-idyllic setting he has created and beckoning them back for future installments. ”—Publishers Weekly
The Vast and Brutal Sea
by Zoraida CordovaBlood is in the Water...Two days. That's all the time Tristan Hart has to prevent all-out war. Since discovering he was part merman and heir to the Sea Throne, Tristan has been fighting for his future, his friends--his life. Now, to win the crown and save the girl he loves, Tristan will have to take the ultimate risk: unleash the ancient magic of Poseidon and release the kraken. Seriously. It's the only way to unite the three scattered pieces of the king's trident and stop the sea witch Nieve from taking the throne for herself.Tristan's going to need all the help he can get. But the one person he could always depend on him has betrayed him--Kurt now wants the throne for himself. Brother against brother, it's a brutal race to the finish, and there can only be one winner.
The Vastalimi Gambit
by Steve PerryAt the close of the twenty-fourth century, a series of revolutions has caused the galaxy to descend into chaos. With the Galactic Union Army stretched thin, mercenary units have arisen for those who have the need--and the means--to hire them... Kay, the alien member of the Cutter Force Initiative, has returned to her brutal home world of Vast on a mission of mercy. Before she joined the merc team, she was a great healer. And now her skills are sorely needed. Hundreds of Vastalimi--including her blood-kin--are dying mysteriously. But is the plague a work of nature? Or is it a bioengineered virus, purposefully unleashed? Kay and Doc Wink will have to find out the hard way. With the Cutter Force light-years away, the two find the odds against them--and on a planet like Vast, where violence abounds and life is cheap, they may be facing a foe they can't defeat...
The Vastening Omnibus: In the Mouth of the Whale and Evening's Empires
by Paul McAuleyIN THE MOUTH OF THE WHALE: Humanity's future rests on the shoulders of a Child from the past, and she must never know of the battles being fought for her . . . In the system of Fomalhaut, a war is being fought. The Quicks came long ago, refugees from the Solar System. The True arrived later, to find a declining civilisation and a system ripe for the taking. Then the Ghosts appeared, no longer human, unknowable, powerful and determined to drive out the Quick and the True. The battle continues, but the outcome is uncertain.Three lives will intersect, because there is something at the centre of their universe, something dangerous and growing and powerful. Something that is worth fighting for. And it will change everybody's life.EVENING'S EMPIRES:In the far future, a young man stands on a barren asteroid. His ship has been stolen, his family kidnapped or worse, and all he has on his side is a semi-intelligent spacesuit. The only member of the crew to escape, Hari has barely been off his ship before. It was his birthplace, his home and his future.He's going to get it back.Nobody is to be trusted.
The Vastening Omnibus: In the Mouth of the Whale and Evening's Empires
by Paul McauleyIN THE MOUTH OF THE WHALE: Humanity's future rests on the shoulders of a Child from the past, and she must never know of the battles being fought for her . . . In the system of Fomalhaut, a war is being fought. The Quicks came long ago, refugees from the Solar System. The True arrived later, to find a declining civilisation and a system ripe for the taking. Then the Ghosts appeared, no longer human, unknowable, powerful and determined to drive out the Quick and the True. The battle continues, but the outcome is uncertain.Three lives will intersect, because there is something at the centre of their universe, something dangerous and growing and powerful. Something that is worth fighting for. And it will change everybody's life.EVENING'S EMPIRES:In the far future, a young man stands on a barren asteroid. His ship has been stolen, his family kidnapped or worse, and all he has on his side is a semi-intelligent spacesuit. The only member of the crew to escape, Hari has barely been off his ship before. It was his birthplace, his home and his future.He's going to get it back.Nobody is to be trusted.
The Vastness (Vesteal Series #3)
by Blake Hausladen‘Blake excels at world-building, and his book is so detailed in so many areas that he either conducted an astounding amount of research...or he knows lots more than the average person.” – Kate Norlander, author of Geek CultureThe Vastness is the third and final omnibus collection to the Vesteal Series. The Vastness takes us deep into the capital of Bessradi, following the chaos of Native Silver, where new magic is emerging. A girl who lives inside her head with numbers becomes the center of a vast rebellion, while far to the north the people of Enhedu are scattered, their keep in ruins. Ghosts stir, the ground shakes, and an unknown magic has been unleashed. A desperate mission to the frozen edge of the world must be mounted in order to rescue Enhedu’s stolen children while the war for Zoviya tears down families, provinces, and religions. Blood becomes as important as air, and our characters struggle to keep the world balanced. The ending to this epic fantasy series is full of surprise and intrigue. In the end, the war will be over, but which side will win?"It reminds me a bit of Tolkien, so for those that love fantasy and an in depth story this book is a must read.” – Fleur, GoodreadsThe Vestal SeriesA tale of violent magic, intrigue, and statecraft, the Vesteal Series is the story of four souls that are banished beyond the edge of the map to a land of gnarled forests, ancient magic, and the site of a terrible murder. Their struggles to survive will put them at odds with their families, their nation, and the very powers that shaped the world.1. Ghosts in the Yew Novella 1 - Beyond the Edge Novella 2 - Opposing Oaths Novella 3 - Reckless Borders Novella 4 - Bayen's Women Novella 5 - Falling Tides2. Native Silver Novella 1 - Sutler's Road Novella 2 - Forgotten Stairs Novella 3 - Thrall's Wine Novella 4 - Corsair Princess Novella 5 - Tanayon Born 3. The Vastness Novella 1 - Silent Rebellion Novella 2 - The River War Novella 3 - The Blinded Novella 4 - Crimson Valley Novella 5 - Singer's Reward“Blake Hausladen takes you on a journey threw distant lands, romance, action, comedy, suspense,and mystery. The Vesteal series will easily be on of your favorites in your collection.” – Kyle, Goodreads
The Vault
by Emily MckayThere is no rest for the damned in this thrilling follow-up to Emily McKay's The Lair and The Farm, in a series New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill calls, "Equal parts Resident Evil and Hunger Games." In a world where vampires rule and teenaged humans are quarantined as a food source, there is only one choice--resist or die. But fighting the vampires comes at a terrible cost to twin sisters Mel and Lily and their best friend Carter . . . With Lily exposed to the vampire virus and lying in a coma, it's up to Mel and Carter to search for the cure. Time is not on their side. With every passing heartbeat, Mel is becoming more and more purely vampire. Desperate, Carter and Mel decide to split up. Carter will recruit human rebels from the Farm in San Angelo to infiltrate the guarded kingdom of the vampire Sabrina and steal the cure. Mel will go back to her mentor, her friend, her betrayer, Sebastian, who is the only one who can access an underground vault that may house the secret to the cure. That is, if he's still alive after she staked him to the ground. Now her worst enemy may be their best hope for curing Lily--and saving the human race.
The Vault of Dreamers (The Vault of Dreamers Trilogy #1)
by Caragh M. O'BrienThe Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students' lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students' schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras in the school. What's worse is, she starts to notice that the ridges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding—and what it truly means to dream there. From Caragh M. O'Brien, author of the Birthmarked trilogy comes the first book in a new series, The Vault of Dreamers, a fast-paced, psychologically thrilling novel about what happens when your dreams are not your own.
The Vault of Sages
by B.C. OliverIn this epic fantasy adventure debut, a young mage unknowingly becomes a pawn in a dangerous plot to obtain forbidden magic.Primidia is a land steeped in ancient history and filled with exotic races. Within these lands is a powerful force known as the Aether . . .Wizards, spellblades, and other adepts spend their days studying the Aether at the Arcane Academy, also known as the Azure Towers. The Overmage Delsimar Pheric is the leader of the academy. His secret machinations use the school’s resources to help him search for a lost reliquary of forbidden magics known as the Vault of Sages. Delsimar will stop at nothing to attain such ultimate power.In this school of higher arcane learning, the student Jhona Kroenen stands out as an intellectual savant. Unwittingly set on a path by Delsimar to find the Vault, he is soon surrounded by secrets and plots made by many powerful—and sometimes unseen—enemies.Will his power be enough to stop the Vault from being opened and save them from the darkness-before it devours them all?
The Veil
by Chloe NeillA brand new series from New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill. Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle. Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she's a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil's Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused. Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack--in full view of the French Quarter--Liam decides to bring her to Devil's Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn't the same as keeping her out of his head. As more and more Sensitives fall prey to their magic, and unleash their hunger on the city, Claire and Liam must work together to save New Orleans, or else the city will burn...From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Veil: A Devil's Isle Novel (The Devil's Isle Series)
by Chloe NeillSeven years ago, the Veil that separates us from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle.Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she's a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil's Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack - in full view of the French Quarter - Liam decides to bring her to Devil's Isle and the teacher she needs - even though getting her out of his way isn't the same as keeping her out of his head.As more and more Sensitives fall prey to their magic, and unleash their hunger on the city, Claire and Liam must work together to save New Orleans, or else the city will burn...
The Veiled Dragon (Forgotten Realms: Harpers #12)
by Troy DenningThe Bedine witch Ruha has left the parched sea of Anauroch on her quest to become a Harper. That quest takes her to Eversult, where she must prove herself by discovering who has poisoned Lady Yanseldara. Simple enough. Find the poison and track the poisoner. Simple until the Cult of the Dragon, a Shou Prince, an oriental merchant, and an ancient dracolich get involved. As Ruha soon discovers, life is never simple for a Harper, and poisoners' plots hold more treacherous twists than the tail of a Shou dragon.
The Veiled Masters: A Twilight Imperium Novel (Twilight Imperium)
by Tim PrattThe galaxy stands on the brink of war, yet hope remains that the vast web of schemes can be exposed before it&’s too late, in this astounding space opera from the acclaimed game, Twilight ImperiumThe balance of power is shifting, with bold new alliances, unknown invaders, and the rumored return of the galaxy&’s ancient masters. When black-ops spy Amina Azad saves a Hacan ambassador from assassination, she draws him into her investigation of a vast conspiracy: unseen forces are destabilizing the whole galaxy, at the worst possible time. Pursued by agents from dozens of other factions, they can only make progress by allying with their apparent enemies. But even they might be compromised – duped into action by a secret puppet-master. How can they trust an alliance when they can&’t trust themselves?
The Veiled Throne (The Dandelion Dynasty #3)
by Ken LiuWith the invasion of Dara complete, and the Wall of Storms breached, the world has opened to new possibilities for the gods and peoples of both empires as the sweeping saga of the award-winning Dandelion Dynasty continues in this third book of the &“magnificent fantasy epic&” (NPR).Princess Théra, once known as Empress Üna of Dara, entrusted the throne to her younger brother in order to journey to Ukyu-Gondé to war with the Lyucu. She has crossed the fabled Wall of Storms with a fleet of advanced warships and ten thousand people. Beset by adversity, Théra and her most trusted companions attempt to overcome every challenge by doing the most interesting thing. But is not letting the past dictate the present always possible or even desirable? In Dara, the Lyucu leadership as well as the surviving Dandelion Court bristle with rivalries as currents of power surge and ebb and perspectives spin and shift. Here, parents and children, teachers and students, Empress and Pékyu, all nurture the seeds of plans that will take years to bloom. Will tradition yield to new justifications for power? Everywhere, the spirit of innovation dances like dandelion seeds on the wind, and the commoners, the forgotten, the ignored begin to engineer new solutions for a new age. Ken Liu returns to the series that draws from a tradition of the great epics of our history from the Aeneid to the Romance on the Three Kingdoms and builds a new tale unsurpassed in its scope and ambition.
The Veiled Web
by Catherine AsaroSet in the near future, this is a story combining elements of science fiction, romance and suspense. A world-famous dancer and a businessman who has created cutting-edge software involving virtual reality, fall in love even while trying to thwart a conspiracy to gain control of the worldwide web.
The Veiled Web
by Catherine Asaro&“A near-future layering of East and West, of religion and technology . . . and of love and its loss—all woven into an intriguing tapestry.&” —Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander seriesWinner of the Homer Award for Best Science Fiction Novel A renowned prima ballerina, Lucia del Mar is far more comfortable expressing herself through dance than with words. Shy and introverted, she spends most of her spare time on her laptop. Still, Lucia&’s job forces her out of her comfort zone, which is how she winds up at a White House reception where she meets Rashid al-Jazari, the wealthy CEO of a multinational corporation. Although attracted to him, Lucia can&’t help but feel awkward and shrugs off their encounter as a one-time event. Not realizing he feels a similar attraction, she never imagines Rashid will seek out her performances; he is the last person she expects to see when her dance company travels to Italy. Their reunion takes an even more unexpected turn when they&’re both drugged and kidnapped. Although they overcome their abductors, it leaves them stranded in North Africa. For her own safety, Lucia agrees to marry Rashid, at least for the time being. As she recovers at his family compound in Morocco, reeling from their brush with danger, she struggles to fit into a culture she knows nothing about—and to deal with her growing feelings for Rashid. At the same time, at his secret office there, Rashid is developing a dramatic leap forward in artificial intelligence combined with virtual reality. He finds himself plunged into a fight for control of his work against powerful international forces, and caught in the middle, Lucia is swept into that battle . . . &“A terrific novel, ripping a path from today&’s headlines to tomorrow&’s realities.&” —Robert J. Sawyer, Nebula Award–winning author
The Veldt
by Ray BradburyThe advanced technology of a house first pleases then increasingly terrifies its occupants.